Leisure icon Oprah Winfrey has mentioned it’s a lie that she personally benefited from $1 million in funds that U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential marketing campaign disbursed to her longtime firm, Harpo Productions. This rumor circulated in information articles and on social media within the days following President-elect Donald Trump’s November 2024 reelection victory.
For instance, on Nov. 10, Fox News printed the headline, “Harris paid Oprah $1 million in failed bid to assist marketing campaign: report.” Nonetheless, the primary sentence within the story clarified on a reality not correctly conveyed within the headline: that Winfrey’s Harpo Productions obtained the $1 million. The article cited a Washington Examiner story as its supply.
On TikTok, one consumer whose video obtained round 750,000 views wrote the caption, “Kamala paid Oprah $1 million throughout marketing campaign.” Different customers’ posts on X also claimed Winfrey or her manufacturing firm profited from the funds.
This is what we all know: On Sept. 19, Winfrey — a billionaire — hosted a livestreamed town hall occasion titled “Unite for America.” The occasion featured a sit-down program with Harris and appearances from a lot of celebrities. In line with the occasion’s website, the occasion was held on the venue house The Meridian in Farmington Hills — a suburb of Detroit. USA Today reported that “it was successfully a 90-minute marketing campaign infomercial for Vice President Harris.” Winfrey’s official YouTube channel additionally carried the dwell stream.
Federal Election Fee filings show (archived) that, on Oct. 15, the spender Harris for President disbursed two $500,000 funds to Harpo Productions for “occasion manufacturing” functions. In different phrases, the $1 million in funds adopted the manufacturing from the earlier month.
In statements, Winfrey and a spokesperson for Harpo Productions each mentioned the $1 million lined the prices related to the manufacturing. For instance, in a press release offered in full later on this story, Winfrey commented from her official Instagram account: “For the live-streaming occasion in September, my manufacturing firm Harpo was requested to usher in set design, lights, cameras, microphones, crew, producers, and each different merchandise essential (together with the benches and chairs we sat on) to placed on a dwell manufacturing.”
By telephone, Meridian spokesman Amit Pathak confirmed to Snopes that Harpo Productions offered its personal supplies for all points of the manufacturing, simply as Winfrey mentioned. He additionally mentioned the big occasion befell within the venue house’s mixed rooms named Addison, Belmont and Carlson.
This picture reveals a large view of the set design for the live-streamed manufacturing. (Picture courtesy of Getty Pictures)
Assertion from Harpo Productions
On Nov. 11, Variety.com reported a press release from a spokesperson for Harpo Productions. Chelsea Hettrick, Harpo Productions’ senior vp of communications, confirmed the assertion’s veracity in an electronic mail to Snopes.
The assertion learn: “The marketing campaign paid for the manufacturing prices of ‘Unite for America,’ a live-streaming occasion that befell September 19 exterior Detroit, Michigan. Oprah Winfrey was at no level in the course of the marketing campaign paid a private charge, nor did she obtain a charge from Harpo.”
Winfrey Refutes Rumor in Video and Instagram Reply
In a video printed on TMZ.com on Nov. 11, an unidentified videographer for the Backgrid superstar information company requested Winfrey, “Is it true that they paid you $1 million for the endorsement for Kamala?” Winfrey answered, “Not true.” She added, “I used to be paid nothing, ever.”
Later that day, the Instagram account @theshaderoom posted the identical video. Winfrey replied from her verified account below a consumer’s remark who mentioned, “Y’all considering Oprah’s assist could be bought is past me.” Winfrey thanked the commenter and known as the rumor she personally benefitted from the funds a lie. She additionally mentioned, “I used to be not paid a dime,” including, “I didn’t take any private charge.”
Winfrey’s full reply on Instagram learn:
Thanks a lot for saying this. I need to excessive 5 you and offer you a hug. Often I’m reluctant to answer rumors normally, however today I notice that if you happen to do not cease a lie, it simply will get larger. I used to be not paid a dime. My time and vitality was my approach of supporting the marketing campaign. For the live-streaming occasion in September, my manufacturing firm Harpo was requested to usher in set design, lights, cameras, microphones, crew, producers, and each different merchandise essential (together with the benches and chairs we sat on) to placed on a dwell manufacturing. I didn’t take any private charge. Nonetheless the individuals who labored on that manufacturing wanted to be paid. And had been. Finish of story.
We are going to replace this story if we be taught extra particulars about this matter.
